Type-adjusting device for printing-machines.



G. F. ROBBINS. TYPE ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR PRINTING MAGHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1914.

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Wiifn asses.

lnventor. Charles F Robbins,

I1. ROBBINS, OFAIBINGTON, MASSAOHUSE'ETS, ASSIGNOR TO .U. 211' MAGmNE COMPANY, OF.--IBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION: @E,

SACIHUSETTS.

TYPE-ADJ USTIN G DEVICE PBINTINGQMACHINES.

1 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar.16,. 11915.

Applioation filed .Tune e, 1914. Serial no. a4atc1.

Toall whom it-mcy concern Be it lmown thatI, GHARLns F..B.0 BBINS, acitizenof the-United states residing at Abington, county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts,'have invented an Improvemeat in Type-Adjusting Devices for Printbig-Machines, of which the .IEOllOWlIlgdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawing-is a specification, llkecharacters on thedrawing representing like parts.

.rThiS invention relates to :printmg or marking machines ofthattype embodying a plurality of independently-settable type disks, each carrying a series of type characters, and the objectof the inventioniis to provide anovel means tor independently setting or adjusting the various type disks,

' which means also has associated therewith devices .by which all the other type disks except the one being set are locked against rotation. 1

The invention is capableofuse with any numbering or marking machine. having the plurality of type diskscapable of being independently set or adjusted, :and as: an example of such a marking machine, I would refer to United States'Patent No. 660,512, 0ctoberf23, 1900, orNo. 1,019,971, March 12, 1912. Both ofthese patents show devices embodying a numbering. head mounted on a vibratingv arm,-which head carries a plurality of independently-settable type disks and which head is movable toward and fromthe platen onwhich thework to bejpri-nted is laid. These headsare frequently :made with two side pieces between which the various type disksare retained in position and it is a numbering head ofthis typethat I have herein illustrated. i Wish to state, however, that my invention may be embodied in any numbering head for a printing or numbering machine which has a plurality of independently-adjustable type disks.

.Referring to the drawings wherein I have illustrated a selected embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a numbering head embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view through Fig.=1;Fig. 3 is a section on the 'line ava; Fig.2 Fig. i is a section on-the line yy, F-ig. 2.

The numbering head comprises .a'holder: 1 herein shown. as 5 provided with two .side

. pieces 2- between- 'which the type disks 3 are received, each type disk*g-hav-ingv on its pe,

riphery a plurality of. projections 4., each-of which carr es. a ty ezcharacter. For. adjustmg these disks 1n epemlentlyyand. for lockmgthem in their vadjustedposition I have provided a type wheel supporting member having provision for looking. all. of the type wheels: exceptthe 0'48 torhe adjusted, wand haveaassociated with said member-attunewheelm-d usting :device adapted to actuate the particular type wheel which isnot locked by;the:lock1ng means. The tYPBvWhBBlr-SHP- porting means 1s capable of movement axially of the-type wheels so asto bn'ingithc type whee1 adjusting member intoaposition to ad ust any one of the type wheels.

the illustrated embodiment oflmy invention the type-wheehsupporting member is U1- the form of a sleeve made in twoasections 5 and 6 which are-mounted openrugs. 7 and .8. formed in. the twoside pieces :2 of the printing head and are capahlejofladustment longitudinally in said openings. The type wheels are mounted. on said J supporting member, each type :wheelihavimg 1a centraiaperture throughwhich the supporting member extends. [Extending-longitudinally through the .sleeve sections 5 and dis a: typeTwheel-adjustin'g;.member: 9 which is capable ofrotation in said sleevezsections. Said member has extending laterally therefrom a type-wheel-engaging pin 10 that; 00- copies the space 11 :betweenthe meeting ends of the two sleeve sections 5 and 6,.said pin being of a length to. project slightly beyond the periphery of the .sleeve sections. Each of the type wheels is provided Wdillhwfi, plurallty of notches 12, there being one notch for each of the type-bearingprojections i, and these notches are adapted to receive the pin 10 as the sleeve sections 5 .an d'fi are adjusted longitudinally. The sleevesections 5 and 6 .are held in their proper position relative to each other by. means of heads-l3 and 14 on the ends of the-member. 9, .said heads also constituting handles by which the member 9 can be turned. it will be seen from this that by sliding the sleeve sections Wh L be adjusted to bringuanyitype bearing character into printing position.

My invention also includes means whereby all the other type wheels except the one being' adjusted are locked from rotation, and I accomplish this herein by maklng the sleeve sections 5 and 6 incapable of rotation and providing means whereby said sleeve sections have an interlocking engagement 1 with all of the type wheels except the particular type wheel which is to be set. While this may be accomplished 111 any suitable way, Iihave herein shown for this purpose each sleeve section 5 and 6 as being provlded with a locking rib or spline 15' wh1c h extends through a groove in the side piece 2 and thus prevents the sleeve from rotating and which is also adapted to engage one of the notches 12 of the type disks susta ned by said sleeve section. The distance between the two inner ends 16 of the splines 15 1s slightly greater than the width of the type disks so that when the member 9 and the sleeves 5 and 6 are adjusted into pos tion to bring the pin 10 into engagement with any particular type wheel said type wheel w1ll be free from the splines 15 and thus free to rotate, but all the other type wheels will be engaged by either one or the other of the splines. With this construction, therefore, all the type wheels are positively locked except the particular one which 1s to be set or adjusted.

One advantage of my construction 1s that the type wheels can be set in any desired order, for the setting of a type wheel 1nvolves merely shifting the sleeves 5 and 6 longitudinally to bring the pin 10 into interlocking engagement with the deslred type wheel and then rotating said member 9 to bring said type wheel into its properly adjusted position.

It is desirable to have some means to 1ndicate when the pin 10 is in proper engagement with any of the type wheels so as to avoid the chance of its being so adjusted as to bring the pin 10 into a position where it will act on two adjacent type wheels at the same time. Any suitable means for this purpose may be employed. I have shown in Fig. 2 a construction wherein the sleeve 6 is provided with a plurality of recesses 17 spaced distances apart equal to that of the type wheels and a spring-pressed locking member in the form of a ball 18 is carried by one of the cheek pieces 2 and is adapted to enter the recesses 17. This construction permits the parts to be adjusted longitudinally by applying a little pressure to them, but the clicking of the ball 18 into the recesses 17 will give indication to the operator as to the position of the pin 10 and will assist him in locating said pin directly in the center, of any desired type disk. Any other means for thus assisting in properly locating the setting pin 10 relative to any disk may be what I to secure by Letters through said supporting member and adapted to have interlocking engagement with sald one type disk. v

In a numbering head for printing machines, the combination with a holder, of a type-dlsk-supporting member sustained thereby, a plurality of type disks supported on said member, means associated with said member for locking all of the type disks from rotary movement except one, and a'typedisk adjusting member extending axially through said supporting member and adapted to have interlocking engagement with said one type disk, said supporting member beingadjustable axially of the type disks to bring the type-disk-adjusting member into rpei-ative engagement with any desired type {3. In a numbering head for printing machlnes, the combination with a holder, of two non-rotary sleeves slidably mounted therein, a plurality of type disks sustained by said sleeves, each sleeve being provided with means to prevent from rotation all the type disks thereon except the one adjacent the meet ng ends of the sleeves, and a typed1sk-sett1ng member having provision for engaging said type disk and rotating it.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a holder comprising two side pieces, of a plurality of type disks confined between said side pieces, a tubular supporting member slidably mounted in said side pieces and extending axially through the type disks, said memher being made in two sections, a typed1sk-ad usting member rotatably mounted in said supporting member and provided wlth a projection extending beyond the periphery of the supporting member between the sections thereof, said type disks having notches to be engaged by said pin, and splines carried by the supporting member sections and engaging the notches of all the type disks except the one engaged by the type-setting projection.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a-holder, of two nonrotary sleeves slidably mounted therein, a plurality of type disks sustained by said sleeves, each sleeve being provided with means to prevent from rotation all the type memes engagement With certain of the type disks sustained thereby, a type-disheetting meinber extending axially through the supporting member and having means to engage and rotate the type disk which is situated opposite said notch.

In testimony whereof, I have name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witness-es,

CHARLES F. RQBBINS,

Witnesses:

LOUIS C. SMITH, THoMAs J. DRUMMOND,

signed my 

